Continuing from where I’d left, here is the 2nd edition of “The Downward Spiral Conundrum”.

Before we get started with the dissection, it is with much pleasure that I write about MUFC who have done a bit to revive their reputation as a force to reckon with after beating Manchester City at their backyard, ending the latter’s FA Cup hopes for this season. More on that, another time.

So what do we have in our hands here ? A test series that was well hyped in the Aussie media with Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke & Shane Watson going vocal in their promo videos warning “India : You’ll feel the heat down under”, has thin chances of going down the records as a breakthrough achievement in the advertising world. But what followed on the pitch in the 1st 2 tests, only reiterated what ( atleast before the series kicked off) seemed like tall claims. Aussies being owned by The Black Caps in Hobart right before the Boxing Test being a case in point.

Some dreams are just not meant to be Son. Tendulkar walks back

There is a belief among the community of cricket fans, that if a team is going through a rough patch they should play India. Time and time again it has been proved that a slump in batting form or a long losing streak is always over turned when one faces India. Strangely enough it used to happen to consecutive winning streaks as well. The historic India-AU series (Kolkata Test) and the last Perth test are case in points where we halted AU’s dominance over the game so to speak. With an utter sense of disbelief as much as disgust, the downward spiral for the Indian cricket team has been so phenomenal that anyone harbouring a sense of vengeance with a hope that this team will seek redemption in the next two tests is close to saying, we believed that the Lokpal Bill could have been passed by the Government, in its original form, if at all. The fall from grace could not have been anymore excruciatingly painful to witness, given the manner how every department of our gamesmanship has been found wanting against totally varied oppositions and conditions. Whether it is the English with softer pitches and overcast conditions or Australia with hard pitches baked by the summer sun in all it’s glory. The results have been identical. Regardless of the perspective or the manner You may choose to analyse the game, cricket rests on the 2 basic fundamentals of batsmen scoring runs and bowlers taking wickets. A 3rd dimension which we were always poor at could be that of fielders saving runs. We have categorically failed in all prospects fair and square.

The glorious stories such as that of Dhoni’s rags to riches does not look like its heading towards a fairy tale ending. The jingoism of a money making automobile also known as the IPL interrupting the euphoria of winning a World Cup considered the pinnacle of any sport after a gap of 27 yrs, speaks plenty about what occupies the minds of a group of people who run this show in a country where the sport has proved to be an unifying factor. Considering the country is also the world’s biggest democracy with the 2nd largest population of a secular nature, it is saying a lot.

It just may be that we the current generation of followers have been lucky to have shared a night when we danced and partied like possessed people, where we ran the streets without knowing where we are headed and hugged strangers. It just may be the most this team is touted to give us in return. It just could be the end of all other wishes associated with these lads. It just may be the epitome of “The Downward Spiral Conundrum”.

The 2 Chucks disappointed with the lack of intensity exhibited by the Indians on field, in the Sydney test  are asking a question “Why is India so bad” ? ***BE WARNED*** Not for the weak minded

Courtesy : Youtube & Cricinfo